The Black Echo: Harry Bosch Series, Book 1

For LAPD homicide cop Harry Bosch - hero, maverick, nighthawk - the body in the drainpipe at Mulholland Dam is more than another anonymous statistic. This one is personal. The dead man, Billy Meadows, was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat" who fought side by side with him in a nightmare underground war that brought them to the depths of hell.

The Obsession

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father's crimes and made him infamous. Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, thousands of miles away from everything she's ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up - especially the determined Xander Keaton.

The Wrong Side of Goodbye: A Harry Bosch Novel, Book 21

Harry Bosch is California's newest private investigator. He doesn't advertise, he doesn't have an office, and he's picky about who he works for, but it doesn't matter. His chops from 30 years with the LAPD speak for themselves. Soon one of Southern California's biggest moguls comes calling. The reclusive billionaire has less than six months to live and a lifetime of regrets. He hires Bosch to find out whether he has an heir.

On What Grounds

Clare Cosi used to manage the historic Village Blend coffeehouse…until she opted for quieter pastures and a more suburban life. But after ten years and a little friendly cajoling from the owner (a fresh pot of Jamaican Blue Mountain was all it took), she's back to the grind. With a sprawling rent-free apartment directly above the Village Blend, her cat Java by her side, and plenty of coffeehouse redecorating ideas, Clare is thrilled to return to work. Until she discovers the assistant manager unconscious in the back of the store, coffee grounds strewn everywhere.

Pam says:"Stands out"

Publisher's Summary

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over 10 years on the force, she's seen it all - and knows that her survival depends on her instincts. And she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire - and suspect in Eve's murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it's up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about - except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

This is a wonderful series that is definitely worth your investment. Naked in Death is pretty good, but it wasn't J.D. Robb's best, so don't judge the series by the first book. To be honest, I waited half a year before I read the second book. After that, I knew I was going to spend like 30 something credits on the In Death series. I was completely addicted to them!

Each book gets better as the story progresses. It took me 2 to 3 books to really get to know all the wonderful and interesting characters. Characters you will come to love, respect and admire.

Susan Ericksen gave a stellar performance on the narration. Each character's voice was so distinctive that you could instantly tell who the speaker was. Listening to Susan bringing all my favorite characters to life is a much more enjoyable experience than reading the books myself. I couldn't imagine the narration done by anyone else! I highly recommend that you give it a try!

I am a huge fan of J D Robb's 'Death' series. Eve Dallas is one of my most favourite characters! I eagerly wait for each book and buy it in hard cover. When deciding to purchace this series of (so far) 32 books i was sceptical ... could anyone capture Eve Dallas the way i had always evisioned her to be? YES! Susan Eriksen IS Eve Dallas and Rouke and Peabody and Charlotte oh the list goes on! This narrator reintroduced me to all the reasons i love this series! Get them all!

I have read many books by Nora Roberts and couldn't put them down, but I thought the futuristic setting of this series would be hard to relate to. I WAS WRONG!! I have gotten so absorbed with Eve and her love life with rich and sexy Roark that I had to get the next 4 titles all at the same time from Audible. I listen to them while I piece together quilts.Matching fabrics and listening to Susan Erickson's narration is what retirement was meant to be!

Set in a not unrealistic future where violence and murder has been greatly reduced through education, government legislation and social engineering. Eve Dallas is a cop who gets the job done and does so by following the book.

During this case she meets a love interest which J.D. Robb intricately weaves into the plot of murder mystery. Two parts CSI/Law and Order with a dash of the Silk Stockings this is a great book for the beach, park or a long weekend because you will be riveted to it.

The narration by Susan Erikson is nearly flawless with a good range of accents, characterizations and an amazing range of emotional inflections. At one point in the reading she reads a scene where a female character is crying and a male character was consoling her and both were done flawlessly.

If I have one complaint the sex scenes in the book are a bit derivative and somewhat distracting from solving of the case. That being said it was an immensely satisfying listen and highly recommended.

This is a very good "first" book for a series. Several scenes are set up for future books to play off. Although that is obvious, it's OK, since a few dozen are already written, and they aren't exactly cliff-hanger scenes. There are also cliche's, but I got this book as a "light read" and was very pleased with what I got. As long as the characters are filled out in future books, I'm sure I'll be happy with them, too.

I didn't do my homework by reading reviews, so I was a bit surprised at the romance part, but it never occurred to me to stop listening. I wanted to know if I was right in the "whodunnit" guess. I was. I'm hoping future books are a little less obvious, but I'm about to download book 2 and find out!

This reads a lot more like a regular Nora Roberts romance novel with a mystery section. Narrator did all the voices wonderfully except the voice of Eve Dallas - it sounded a bit too rough and aggressive most of the time. Still, I am looking forward to the development of the relationship across the series

Finaly!!! I have read every one of the "in Death" series by J.D. Robb, and have several on disc, which are a pain to transfer to my i-pod, and right now I could not be happier... terrific murders, wonderful characters that become friends... every one of this series is a gem...Susan Ericson has so become the voice of Eve, that when I am reading them I use her voice in my head...and then there's Roarke... oh yah...Roarke...Peabody, McNab, Feeney, Mavis, Leonardo, Nadine, and Somerset..a great way to spend the day, with them, in the future.

I first picked up a J.D. Robb audio book featuring Lt. Eve Dallas in a retail store and now I cannot seem to put them down. The book is fast moving and everytime you think you have solved the crime. Think again. Wonderful book series.

The "in Death"/NYPD Lieutenant Eve Dallas series is written Nora Roberts using the pen name J. D. Robb. Naked in Death is an excellent police procedural/suspense thriller. This is a thriller rather than a romance novel. The narration of Susan Ericksen is also excellent.

Instead of doing a review on each book in this series I'm reviewing the series as a whole.

I'm not a Nora Robert's type of girl. In fact, I was proud of the fact that I'm not a "Nora Robert's type of girl". After reading the first 4 books of this series I looked up the author and... well crap - I guess I am a "Nora Robert's type of girl".

These books are like a bag of chips. You start out buying the first book - perhaps the second and third - and before you know it, all 35 books are in your wish list and the credits don't come fast enough.

I don't do plot summaries, but if you have gotten this far then you pretty much have a good idea of the story outline. If you're looking for a good long series this one is fun, fast paced, and her main characters get more and more developed as the books continue.

It's not crucial for the reader to start at the beginning of the series to understand what's going on. Each book has its own story line and plot - with the larger story arch (Eve and Roarke) moving through all books.

I accept that thrillers are by definition written to some sort of formula, but this book carries it to extremes - characters, plot, narrative and language, every cliche however hackneyed seems to be used. I gave up after a particularly laughable sex scene between the two main characters, which completely destroyed any credibility the book might have had claim to. I think this is only the fourth or fifth audiobook that I've not finished - out of nearly 500. It was that bad.

To make matters worse, the narrator was not very good; as the previous reviewer comments, she has a lot of difficulty with the Irish accent of one of the main characters, and generally was a tad melodramatic for my taste.

I see J D Robb has written nearly 40 books in this series, so some people must like them. Not me I'm afraid.

18 of 21 people found this review helpful

Paul D

Normandy, France

2/26/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"cardboard cutout fiction"

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

An naive 14 year old.

What could J. D. Robb have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Create believable characters with depth rather than shallow stereotypes.

Would you be willing to try another one of Susan Ericksen’s performances?

Possibly, maybe to check how much she contributes to this being a lifeless yawn of a book

What character would you cut from Naked in Death: In Death, Book 1?

I would cut all the characters from the book and replace them more realistic ones. No-one worth salvaging.

Any additional comments?

A truely awful book - a total cliche of a story peopled by stereotypical characters lacking depth and realism. Formulaic writing offering zero opportunity for empathy with the characters. I really did not care what happened to anyone or anything in the story. Why did I listen to it? Well, I was busy working to begin with and then it's awfulness became mesmeric. . . . . . .I did not listen quietly and sighs and ecpletives filled the air.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

pagewizz

Staffordshire, United Kingdom

7/9/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"The best in death book - The first is always the b"

What did you like most about Naked in Death: In Death, Book 1?

Where Eve and Roarke first meet you can't beat that.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Favorite is difficult but in this one book Eve makes it she always does and with her realising that she just might be able to be part of a couple, and have some friends.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Where feeney and roarke come face to face. after Eve has took the test where she has been trying to clear him, and come to terms with being late for the little girl who did not make it.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Eve and Roarke the start of a complicated life together

Any additional comments?

The In death books would not be the same without Susan Erickson narrating. Its nice to here one voice through the series. The other characters that add later on make it as well. Some of the things Eve comes out with are really classic - my all time favorite "BITE ME"

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Donn Edwards

Johannesburg, South Africa

12/4/10

Overall

"The start of a great series"

Eve Dallas is the 'Jack Reacher' of the 21st Century, and I'm completely hooked on this series. This series is full of life, and Eve has the right kind of attitude for a 'kick-ass New York cop'.

Normally my wife is badly allergic to cliches, but for some reason the 'In Death' series carries off the occasional cliche with great aplomb and humour, and we both thoroughly enjoy the series.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Kaggy

United Kingdom

6/30/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"A mistake I unfortunately repeated"

For some strange reason I bought books 1 to 3 on a whim and after reading the first few chapters of book 1 I bitterly regret my purchasing decision. This is dull and cliche ridden and I can almost believe it was written by a robot. Given there are something like 40 books in this series I think that might be a real possibility.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Ron

6/13/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"A Poor story"

Dull story line - sassy attractive female cop falls for richest man in country who team up to solve the murder - you couldn't write it, only someone did, I wish they hadn't. The narrative is poor, the male voices are truly awful, and watch out for the Irish accent - pure comedy

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Carrie

uk

3/31/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzz"

Tedious, predictable and boring! Hugely disappointed. I thought it would be the sort of thing I'd enjoy but it's just so cheesey. Gave up after two hours. Couldn't take the bad accents any longer!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Laura Taylor

Devon, UK

4/7/13

Overall

"Great first book in fab series"

Have read a few of these books and find them entertaining and page turning. Doesn't matter if you read out of sequence although it was good to learn their history by reading the first book. Well written and a potential glimpse into the future !

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Robyn

4/5/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"By the numbers crime fiction"

What disappointed you about Naked in Death: In Death, Book 1?

First of all, I suppose if you are looking for a bit of very light beach reading and you don't mind annoyingly controlling poorly developed he-man billionaire chauvinist love interests à la Christian Grey, by all means, give this a go. Also he has a stupid name, just going to throw that out there. Roarke is not a name, Rourke is, not Roarke. Also Rourke is a surname.

In fact characterisation throughout the whole book is pretty underdeveloped and underwhelming but as I said if you are looking for a by the numbers, crime page-turner you can't go too wrong. It was far from the worst book I've ever read but it wasn't exactly surprising or particularly compelling. It shocks me that there are like another 40 books in the series!

Has Naked in Death: In Death, Book 1 put you off other books in this genre?

It wasn't the genre that was the problem, it was everything else.

What didn’t you like about Susan Ericksen’s performance?

If you are Irish and are planning to listen to this audiobook, let me tell you, the narrator's interpretation of an Irish accent is more of an assault on the ear's that Gerard Butler in P.S. I Love You and Julia Roberts in Michael Collins combined. You've been warned.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Robb's 1995 vision of what a mid 21st century New York would be like is interesting enough and fairly understated which was refreshing although it is funny to see how dated that vision feels in the 20 years since she imagined it.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Elizabeth

Epping, United Kingdom

3/22/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Action packed"

Fairly routine crime novel, moves at a good pace, requires minimal effort from the listener.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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